Robert W Besse

Military

Robert Besse was Co-Pilot of B-17 #42-30810 of 96th Bomb Group / 338th Bomb Squadron. Shot down by fighters on 18 March 1944 mission to Augsburg, Germany, in B-17F #42-30810. Crashed NE of Ditteshausen, Germany. Prisoner of War (POW). Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 3422.



POW

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.

96th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Robert B Blackburn

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12084275
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Robert Z Haase

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15334099
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Leonard P Hoefferle

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-061261
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Navigator

John I McMillan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18131802
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Robert W Muirhead

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-668267
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-30810

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 18 March 1944 - 29 April 1945 Interned at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan, Poland. Force-marched from there to Stalag 7A in Moosburg, Germany. Liberated by Gen. Patton's troops.

Died

Tucson, Arizona, United States 27 April 1999

Born

Illinois, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Corrected typos in Bio (POW)

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 3422
NARA WWII POW records

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3422 / MACR 3422, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces; Snetterton Falcons, page 109 & 118 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database